Originally Posted By: rharv
"When I listen to a pro song the vocal seems to sail along on the top the backing track while still anchored to the backing track."

It's most likely the compression you are hearing that puts the vocals out front (or 'on top').

Agreed. Intelligent use of compression (not overcompressing, and also not undercompressing) is key. EQ'ing around the vocals as well - find out the main frequency the vocals are sitting at, and use an EQ to reduce those frequencies from the other instruments that have audio in that range.


Originally Posted By: Peters Garage
I agree with Sundance - mix everything as a whole around your vocals.
*SNIP*

I agree with everything here. Always mix the song with respect to all the other tracks. You need those other tracks there to figure out what to do with the vocals, and you need the vocals there to figure out what to do with the other tracks.


Originally Posted By: 90 dB
What makes it a "pro" song has a lot to do with pro gear. Get yourself one of these, and you will be able to compete.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/1176LN--universal-audio-1176ln

Expensive, true; but you could probably sell it used for almost what you paid.

As much as I love the 1176 compressor and what it can do on any audio source, I've never subscribed to the theory of "spend money on gear to get professional results". I've used 1176's, 610's, Avalons, API's, SSL boards, DDA boards, Neumann mics, oldschool equipment, custom made stuff (and I custom build a lot of my own electronics) - but all of that fancy gear maybe adds less than 10% more "good stuff" to your sound (unless you're going for a very specific niche sound). I've personally worked on tracks that have 50,000+ plays using minimal equipment, and have worked on tracks on a $350,000 SSL console with nearly a million bucks worth of additional gear where the song never saw the light of day.

You are the most important part of the process. If you get yourself any reasonably good audio interface with reasonably good preamps (modern interfaces from Steinberg, Focusrite, Audient, MOTU, and other big name brands are all good), and educate yourself on how to use the plugins included with your DAW (third party plugins are great, but so are the ones you got for free with your DAW), you can get professional results. If you don't believe me, look up Finneas O'Connell - he produced and mixed Billie Eilish in his bedroom, mostly "in the box" in Logic Pro. Also look up I Mother Earth - IIRC one of their latest songs (either The Devil's Engine or We Got The Love, can't remember which) was recorded entirely on SM57 mics and mixed in the box, and those are songs that peaked in the top 10 charts.

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